The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1887-02-10
WORKING HIS WAY.
THE EXPERIENCE OFW. G. RAN
DIAL AT CHAPEL HILL,
How a Young North Carolinian Ac-
Quired an University Education In
the face of Many Obstacles.

How a Young North Carolinian Ac-
quired an University Education in i
the face of Many Obstacles.
From President Battle's Report.
The middle of November, 1879,
found me an awkard farm boy of
nineteen. 1 had worked on the farm
since 1 was large enough to use a
hoe, and I plowed summer or two
before I could lift the pillow around at
the end of the furrow, dragging it
around. Till 1 was seventeen, l had
only attended free schools a few
months during the winter, sometimes
walking as far as three and half
miles through rain and snow. was
at last fortunate enough to be able to
attend good private school Cat Tab
lie Rock pretty regularly for nearly
two years, working during the max
ing of the crops. Concluding that |
was getting old faster than | was
getting an education, determined to
go to the University and see what [
could do. l intended, If [ could dc
no better, to get work in the village
during the day, study at night and
recite tn any of tho Professors who
might be willing to help me in my
studies. Having Il cousin who was of
the same mind as myself, except he
had chosen to go to Trinity, we got
some bread and meat for lunches,
bundled up some clothes, and set out
to walk, late in the afternoon of Tues
day. We walked about ten miles,
and slept on some planks in an un-
finished school-house by the road side
We could not afford to pay lodginge,
as my cousin had only three or four
dollars and | had about three Next
morning we passed through Lenoir,
Caldwell county, and walked about
thirty-fve miles. At dark we were
so tired and feeling in low spirits we
tried to get bed at some of the
houses on the road and were turned
off again and again, till at last we
were taken in about nine o'clock and
slept in bed that night. The next
day we passed Wilkesboro and went
into Yadkin county. We found that
the train which we intended taking at
Winston, left during the afternoon for
Greensboro, and if we did not reach
Winston Friday in time for it we
could not reach our destination Sat
urday. This meant that we must
walk most of Thursday night. About
dark | gave out from walking and
carrying a heavy vali-e. We started
fire in the woods by the road and
lay down in pile of shavings where
shingles had been made till about
midnight. By that time my legs hac
quit aching and 1 felt well enough tc
go on. We walked on and crossed
the Yadin river about daylight.
think it was about two or three o clock
when we reached the depot at Win
ston, tired and foot-sore We epartee
in Greensboro that night, my cousir
went on the train for Trinity and
was lett alone. He staid at Trinit,
about month and returned home.
found grove not far from the depot
scraped up some leaves and lay dowl
with my valise for pillow at the foo
of large oak. / did not sleep sound
ly, 1 felt the chill and heard tn
shrieks of the November wind evel
in my dreams.
Next morning l walked out of tn
town and found little stream wher
l could wash my face. l was asham
ed to be seen washing at any of th
town pumps. My provisions beini
out, bought two ham sandwitche
for ten cents and had feast prepara
tory to entering the University
bought ticket to Hillsboro an,
walked over to Chapel Hill, gettin
there about four in the afternoon.
had heard such tales about student
at Chapel Hill that | expected to b
tarred and feathered as soon as mad
my appearance. | walked in throug
the gate and up the walk towards tn
New East, with my heart in M
mouth. / saw II little negro pickin
up hickory nuts and called to him t
know where McCall's room wa
(McC. being an old school mate,
wanted to find him as soon rs pos
sible, for protection). The litti
negro didn't stop to answer re bu
ran away. | was surprised at Nc
seeing a single student | afterwar
found that they were ali on the pla
ground. | came across a Colleg
L servant and he directed me to til
5 room and Mccall came III Just d
t that moment.
s had just thirty cents in my pocb
S ct and this was all 1 had in tn
4 world and / didn't know where tn
4 next was to come from. | was dres:
e Ell in homespun jeans, hickory SHIRT
a no collar and an old Topped hat an
r home made shoes. That night it &C
: noised abroad that there was a ne
:, student in College and before kne'
}. what was up the room was full an
the passage outside. They yelle